Sex slur hits the 'pitbull in lipstick': Palin forced to fight claims she had an affair

Thursday 4 September 2008 13:23 BST

Sarah Palin was embroiled in an astonishing smear scandal last night after she was accused of an affair with her husband's business partner.

The allegation emerged within hours of a barnstorming speech to the Republican convention by the vice-presidential nominee.

The Alaska governor, a mother of five, hugged husband Todd on stage after announcing: 'He's still my guy' to the audience in St Paul, Minnesota.

Sarah Palin blows a kiss to her supporters after wowing the Republican crowd

Sarah Palin blows a kiss to her supporters after wowing the Republican crowd

But, according to the National Enquirer supermarket tabloid, Mrs Palin cheated on the 44-year-old fisherman in an 'affair that nearly ruined her career'.

It claimed the relationship was being widely discussed in Alaska, and that Mr Palin had severed all connections with the friend who allegedly cuckolded him.

The magazine went on to allege that Mrs Palin had desperately tried to cover up the fact that her 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant, confirming it only when she knew the media were about to break the news.

Mrs Palin, 44, was the victim of a slur earlier in the week when it was claimed that her youngest child, four-month-old Trig, who has Down's Syndrome, was actually Bristol's son.

The latest claim, of adultery, was condemned as 'a vicious lie' by the McCain camp.

'The smearing of the Palin family must end,' said Republican chief strategist Steve Schmidt.

Governor Palin makes a speech at the Republican Governors Association luncheon in Minneapolis, and below, her campaign badges

Governor Palin makes a speech at the Republican Governors Association luncheon in Minneapolis, and below, her campaign badges

'The allegations insinuating that Governor Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false.'

The Enquirer has a reputation for sensationalism, paying for stories and digging dirt on the lives of politicians and celebrities.

But its credibility was boosted recently when revelations about the then Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards cheating on his wife while she was battling breast cancer proved to be true.

In her convention speech, Mrs Palin made a point of introducing all her family. With her husband, Bristol and Trig, were their other children Track, 19, Willow, 13, and Piper, seven.

Standing up for Mom: Pregnant Bristol Palin and boyfriend Levi

Standing up for Mom: Pregnant Bristol Palin and boyfriend Levi

Bristol's bemused 18-year-old boyfriend and apparent fiance, Levi Johnston, was seated with them and joined Mrs Palin on stage at the end of the speech.

She introduced her husband as a commercial fisherman and oil worker and 'proud member of the United Steelworkers Union'.

To roars of applause, she declared: 'We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he's still my guy.'

But the Enquirer insisted she had cheated on him.

It quoted an anonymous source saying: 'Todd discovered the affair and quickly dissolved his friendship and his business associations with the guy.

'Many people in Alaska are talking about the rumour and say Todd swept it under the rug.'

However the magazine went into no further detail about the alleged affair.

On the question of Bristol's pregnancy, the Enquirer quoted sources close to the family as saying that Mrs Palin had desperately tried to cover it up.

She confirmed her daughter's pregnancy only after it was clear that the media already knew of it and that the news was about to break, according to the sources.

While Mrs Palin has publicly expressed support for Bristol and said that she will be marrying the baby's father, the source says Mrs Palin had been working frantically to get the two married before the pregnancy news came out, but Bristol refused.

Threatening legal action against the National Enquirer, Mr Schmidt said: 'The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it.'

But the tabloid refused to back down.

'The National Enquirer's coverage of a vicious war within Sarah Palin's extended family includes several newsworthy revelations, including the resulting incredible charge of an affair plus details of family strife when the Governor's daughter revealed her pregnancy,' said a spokesman.

'Following our John Edwards exclusives, our political reporting has obviously proven to be more detail-oriented than the McCain campaign's vetting process.'

To add to Mrs Palin's headaches, she was confronted with further revelations in the respected Washington Post concerning the socalled 'Troopergate' scandal.

She is accused of abusing her power by trying to get her sister's ex-husband fired from his police job after he allegedly threatened her father.

The Post printed e-mails sent by Mrs Palin criticising the official inquiry into her ex-brother-in-law, State Trooper Mike Wooten.

She is accused of getting rid of her public safety commissioner Walt Monegan for failing to axe Trooper Wooten, who had been married to her sister.

As for John McCain, he faced the daunting prospect early today of being overshadowed at his own convention coronation.

Republican officials were worried that Mrs Palin's electrifying performance could steal the show from the 72-year-old White House nominee in his own speech to the Minnesota convention.

'How do you top that?' said one Republican strategist.

Why so sour, Mr Naughtie?

Amid the chorus of approval for Sarah Palin's convention address, one voice remained distinctly unimpressed.

James Naughtie, of Radio 4's Today programme, reported that the Alaska governor had spoken with 'directness and tartness'.

He also claimed that her tone was surprisingly 'sharp' for what was supposed to be an introductory speech to the country.

Many Americans observing the BBC's coverage of the presidential race have accused it of favouring the Democrats, loosely the U.S. equivalent of the Labour Party.

Naughtie showed his colours in 2005 when he asked Labour's Ed Balls: 'If we win the election, does Gordon Brown want to remain Chancellor?'

Meanwhile at BBC 2's Newsnight, Emily Maitlis was accused of flirting with an American politician during an item from the convention hall.

The glamorous 37-year-old presenter left colleagues cringeing and viewers aghast when she prefaced a question by telling Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge he was 'charming' and 'handsome'.